The River Warren

by Kent Meyers

When a local rancher drives a truckload of cattle into a local hardware store, killing himself, his wife, and most of the cows, the theories begin to fly in a tale told through a variety of narrative voices. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.

Genres: Fiction

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I enjoyed Work of Wolves by the same author very much. I like the way Meyers let's you in on individuals and their struggles of being in relationship with other people. It made me think about how you never really know what's going on inside another person's head, how loving within a family can be so difficult and easy to misunderstand.
The River played a big part in the story and Meyers' language and imagery around it were excellent. The recurring theme of heat and cold in the body was impactful.
Chapters are in the voice of several members of a community talking or thinking about an event in their town and why and how it may have happened. At times I found this style a bit
difficult to read, but people don't talk and think in complete sentences so the style was appropriate and very readable once I got used to it.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book from Meyers. He has so many gems and food for thought in here that it is perfectly ok to read it in small bursts. Not quite as good as The Work of Wolves, but better than Twisted Tree. All are good tho. He has such depth, at times I must admit that he either goes too far and gets too ethereal or I am just too short sighted to grasp the deep underlying meaning, tho I try. A good read about how something, anything, has to come along at times to jar us into change. I am off to read his memoir (The Witness of Combines) next. Hope he keeps them coming. Wish I could take a class from him!!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth picking up. Kent Meyers work has a lyrical quality that weaves life's joys and pain into a tapestry of vignettes so vivid you feel as if you're standing right there on the banks of the river with the oily scent of catfish rising from the murky depths of the water at your feet, the sound of cicadas in the heat of summer buzzing in your ears. Guilt, blame, love, revenge, secrets, heartache, frostbite and soda pop bottles. The story's complexity unravels through the eyes of multiple viewpoint characters in a way that sucks you in from the very beginning.

[readmuchrunfar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up after reading one of Meyers' short stories in an anthology. I just remember the writing sucking me in almost despite myself, and this book was the same. There were some places where I felt he was trying a bit too hard, and the conclusions seemed a little too easy. But I didn't mind too much.

[David Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because it’s by an author from where I grew up in southwestern Minnesota. He describes the “River Warren” and I am very familiar with this geologic pattern in Minnesota. The Minnesota River now meanders through the River Warren valley, and I have history in New Ulm, Mankato, St. Peter and on up to Minneapolis/St.Paul.
The book is good, not great. It’s kind of creepy. I did like it, but because I had connections to the place. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to anyone else though.

[Tom Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit disjointed but the character development was top notch and there were some passages that were so soaring and lyrical and poetic that it brought tears. The plot was fine and the ending kept me thinking.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the premise of presenting an event that cannot be explained and using multiple narrative perspectives to try to solve the mystery of why that event occurred even when the reader knows it can't be known and that's an even greater appeal. The writing was as top-quality as it gets. Poetry and philosophy in every sentence, simple profound truths of every day life revealed through beautiful metaphor. Striking descriptions of a place and how it shapes its inhabitants. He is a remarkable writer.

The only two reasons I could not give this five stars was because I did not like the way he chose to develop the character of Luke and I felt it was completely unnecessary to the story to have Ellen and Jeff harbor attraction to each other.

[Sassacaia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was similar to the Work of Wolves in that the characters weren't connected except by this one incident that happened in their small town. The writing wasn't as sure though, not quite as polished.
But still, I was often struck by his description of the river, written with such respect and consideration. The river was a main character in this story.

[stellajames · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't care for this one as much as I did the other two. Still, an excellent writer, and when he writes another novel, I'll probably read it. This one left something out that I was hoping for, I feel the story didn't really end.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meyers does an excellent job of discriptive writing. His writings paint vivid pictures throughout even how he uses the language of Pop Bottle Pete makes you come to know him well.